social justice and the advocating voice of diaconia communications and core values 21 may 2008...
TRANSCRIPT
Social Justice and the Advocating Voice of Diaconia
Communications and Core Values
21 May 2008Eurodiaconia AGM, Vienna
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Purpose
• Share learning from the Eurodiaconia communications seminar “Social Justice and the Advocating Voice of Diaconia” – 21-22 February, 2008 in Brussels
• Outline Eurodiaconia’s communications plans for 2008– Developed using input from seminar
• Most attendees also members of the Eurodiaconia Communications and PR Task Force
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“Europe” talks to Europeans and Eurodiaconia
The European Commission: Communications policy
Relations with faith-based organisations
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Learning from discussions with European Commission officials
• Francis Whyte, DG Communications– Responsible for developing European Commission’s
communications policy
• Cesár das Neves, Bureau of European Policy Advisors– Career Portuguese diplomat, currently advisor to
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso
– Responsible for dialogue with faith-based communities
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European Commission’s goal: “two way dialogue” with citizens
• “Listening” vs. “marketing”– Plan D: democracy, dialogue, debate
• Participative democracy – Transnational citizen consultations on Europe’s Future
• Strengthened communications in Member States– More communications staff in national EU offices– Citizen engagement projects and consultations– European Public Spaces: Dublin, Madrid, Tallin
• Simplified language – “citizen summaries” of key policies
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Communicating “Europe” presents many challenges
• No central control of messages in Brussels– Inter-institutional agreement for broad themes
• European Commission has no control over what national governments say
• Prioritize national vs. European issues– Not always in their interest for citizens to know what really
happens at European level
• Small budget for communications – Commission must rely on national governments to
communicate “Europe” 6
Faith-based organisations valued in EU - - within limits
• Europe needs faith-based organisations– EU Treaties recognize their unique identity and
contribution to society• Advocates for solidarity, social justice• Providers of social services
• Separation of church and state is a fundamental European Union concept– Issues related to faith politically sensitive
• At discretion of member states
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Three communications targets
EurodiaconiaMembers
Governmental ActorsEuropean, National, Regional/Local
Outside World NGOs, citizens, businesses, unions
….and potential Eurodiaconia members
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EurodiaconiaSecretariat
General
A
Three communications goals
EurodiaconiaMembers
Governmental ActorsEuropean, National, Regional/Local
Outside World NGOs, citizens, businesses, unions
….and potential members
Communicate our core values:who we are..or want to be,
what we do, what we stand for
Amplify our voiceas advocates for social justice
and faith-based social services
Strengthen our networkthrough learning and mutual support
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Eurodiaconia Members: Strengthen Our Network - Why
• Serve members directly by helping you:– Get practical information and ideas– Examine theological aspects of your work
• And develop a European diaconal identity
– Build relationships and facilitate cooperation
• Help Secretariat understand member realities, needs, and wishes– To best represent and serve you
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Eurodiaconia Members: Strengthen Our Network - How
• In-person meetings– Formal and informal learning, sharing, and
networking• Regional Forums• Annual General Meeting (AGM)• Seminars, working groups, and task forces• Brussels study trips
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Eurodiaconia Members: Strengthen Our Network - How
• www.eurodiaconia.org website– Constantly improving and evolving
• Member forum for easy sharing– Visit to see “what’s new” or ask/learn about a topic
• Easier to use member section – To be organised by subject
• Plan to experiment with new features– Pictures and video– Sections in German– Additional ideas welcome!
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Eurodiaconia Members: Strengthen Our Network - How
• But, website is only valuable if it’s used!– Promote within your organisation
• Give login/password to employees• Link to www.eurodiaconia.org from your intranets
– And we will give you more reasons to visit• Updated more frequently• E-mails that link back to website content
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Eurodiaconia Members: Strengthen Our Network - How
• Quarterly “key member issues” summary– To facilitate member to member sharing and
cooperation on issues of common concern• Key request of Communications/PR Task Force
– We will collect top 5 current issues for each member organisation - - every 3 months
• Summary sent to designated member contact
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Eurodiaconia Members: Strengthen Our Network - How
• Database of member projects– We’ll collect information on projects that are
successful, new for you, innovative, etc.• Send us pictures, videos, pamphlets, articles
– On www.eurodiaconia.org for you• For ideas, inspiration, learning about the network
– We’ll use to support our work• Lobbying and building European diaconal identity
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Eurodiaconia Members: Strengthen Our Network - How
• Eurodiaconia Innovation Prize– Projects or initiatives that have:
• Helped society focus on an issue of concern to you• Improved how you work • Empowered users • Been innovative or unique in any other way
– Prize to be awarded at the European Parliament on 5 November 2008
• Entries due 25 August, 2008• Entry form on www.eurodiaconia.org
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Governmental Actors:Amplify Our Voice - Why
• Eurodiaconia’s mission is to promote solidarity and social justice in Europe– Direct lobbying at European level
• With support of partners (e.g., Social Platform, EAPN, Caritas)
– Support member lobbying at national level
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Governmental Actors:Amplify Our Voice - How
• Eurodiaconia now has a privileged relationship with European Commission – PROGRESS (Social Inclusion) partner
• We link the Commission to the “real world”– Help them understand poverty and social exclusion– Feed into plans for and monitor performance of Member
State social inclusion policies
• The Commission helps us become empowered – Support our lobbying, communications, and policy-related
member training
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Governmental Actors:Amplify Our Voice - How
• Member “Study Trips” to Brussels– Learn about EU policies and processes – Meet European officials and Members of
European Parliament• Visegrad Platform this Summer
• Training seminars– Including working with the Open Method of
Coordination (OMC) for Social Inclusion
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Governmental Actors:Amplify Our Voice - How
• Policy information for members– On website www.eurodiaconia.org
• Briefings, process trackers, reports, and links• Member forum for discussion and news
– E-mail newsletter• Recent events and developments• Will shorten articles, link to www.eurodiaconia.org
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Governmental Actors:Amplify Our Voice - How
• Policy input from members– Thematic working groups
• Any member can contact working group members or Secretariat with additional input
– Discussions on website• Member forum on www.eurodiaconia.org
– May try e-mail “action alerts” for urgent issues
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Outside World:Communicate Our Core Values
• Raising awareness of Eurodiaconia and its values is a key organisation goal – To strengthen and grow the network– To increase our visibility and relevance– To support our lobbying work
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Outside World:Communicate Our Core Values
• Strategy for 2008-2009 to be developed after examining:– Ourselves (as a European diaconal network)
• Who we are and want to be, role, values
– Our communications targets• Who they are, what they want and value• What they know and think about us
– Other advocating voices • Their messages, identities, roles, values
– And where we “fit” relative to others
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Outside World:Communicate Our Core Values
• External communications activites will support this strategy and may include:– European-level media relations– Quarterly “diaconal voices” publication
• To promote European diaconal views– Content from members, member publications, featuring
member projects
• Distributed widely to both members and non-members
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Outside World:Communicate Our Core Values – European Diaconia Day
• To build awareness of diaconia as a European movement
• One broad theme per year– Aim for first events in 2009
• Secretariat will create resource and idea kits– Members use when and how makes sense for them
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Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
• Contact Janice Thomson, Eurodiaconia Communications Officer– Office phone: +32 (0)2.234.38.62– Mobile phone: +32 (0)485.892.865– Post: Eurodiaconia, Rue Joseph II, 166, B-1000
Brussels, Belgium– E-mail: [email protected]– Languages: English, French
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Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
• Or contact Eurodiaconia Communications and PR Task Force Members– Bettina Klinger (Chair), Diakonie Austria
• [email protected]• +43 1 409 80 01-14• Languages: German, English
– Davide Rosso, Diaconia Valdese (Italy)• [email protected]• +39 338-9559800• Languages: Italian, French, English
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Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
– Pam Taylor, CrossReach (Scotland)• [email protected]• +44 0131 657 2000• Languages: English, French
– Andreas Wagner, Diakonie (Germany)• [email protected]• +49 711 2159 453• Languages: German, English
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